TREND OF 2020: HELPFULNESS

Reinventing Play With Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO kept its community going strong.

Pokémon GO

Epic AR adventure & online RPG

View

Games in 2020 weren’t simply about play. They were a much-needed means of connection. And nowhere was that more true than in Pokémon GO.

Fans of the augmented reality phenomenon faced a steep challenge: How could they possibly play a game about roaming around with friends catching virtual critters when the real world was on lockdown?

Developer Niantic brainstormed ways to keep the game viable without sacrificing its sense of community. “Pokémon GO is about exploration, being social,” says lead product manager Matt Slemon. “We didn’t want to walk away from that.”

Remote Raids bring players together—even when they live miles apart.

Players were allowed to compete in raids from home. Distance requirements were slashed for quests and in-game achievements. To help fans engage without venturing to PokéStops, gift boxes filled with PokéBalls, potions, and other items were drastically discounted to make them easier to acquire.

And in an inspired move, Niantic boldly flipped the script: The game’s menagerie of Zubats, Pidgeys, and other critters began finding you, instead of the other way around. Pokémon-luring incense was given to players practically for free, and the in-game villains of Team GO Rocket were untethered from PokéStops, letting players duel Shadow Pokémon from the comfort of the couch.

The net effect of these 2020 enhancements? Players could continue to explore and connect through Pokémon GO’s sprawling world—even if they couldn’t venture out into it.

Best Of winners will receive a newly designed award precision-milled from a recycled aluminum alloy with diamond-cut edges.

Best of 2020 Winners